NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 21, 19 October 1944, Page 7

NEWS IN BRIEF

No Race Trains

The Railways Department notifies its regret that due to the acute shortage.of coal it’will be unable to run special trains to the Trentham races on. Saturday and Monday. As accommodation on the ordinary trains will be fully taxed by regular passengers it will be impossible to cater for racegoers. Shipment of Bananas. Eleven hundred cases of bananas, part of a shipment of 6244 which has arrived from the islands, will be distributed in Wellington this week. Supreme Court Session. The quarterly session of the Supreme Court will open in Wellington next week. The hearing of the criminal calendar is expected to occupy about a fortnight. Civil fixtures have been made up to the end of November. Hit bv Flying Timber. . While walking along Cambridge Xerrace yesterday morning, Mr. G. Lyon, Sages Lane, Wellington, was struck on the head by a piece of flying timber. He was taken to hospital by the Free Ambulance, suffering from a lacerated head wound and shock.

Demand for Ration Books. During the first two days of this week 30,174 of the new series ration books have been issued in the Wellington metropolitan district, which does not include the Hutt Valley and Eastbourne. Some 17,182 were issued on Tuesday, indicating an even greater demand than on the first day. Members of the public seeking new ration books were yesterday still forming queues at the Wellington Chief Post Office.

Condition of Airmen. A report from Raetihi Hospital yesterday stated that the members of the crew of the R.N.Z.A.F. Anson aircraft, which made a forced landing in a paddock near the town on Monday night, were doing well. All suffered from shock but had now recovered. Their injuries were superficial and no limbs were broken. The pilot. Pilot Officer L..D. Lawson, suffered leg and lip wounds which were stitched. Envelopes for Telegrams. Referring yesterday to a recent statement in the Press that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce intended to ask the Post Office to revert to the use of envelopes for telegrams, the PostmasterGeneral, Mr. Webb, said that the Post Office had been anxious for some time to do this and the necessary preliminary steps had already been taken. The Minister intimated that the annual requirehient of envelopes for the purpose would be approximately 7,500.000. involving about 20 tons of paper.

Tram Track Renewal. ... Half the work in connexion with the renewal of the tram tracks in Manners Street, between Willis and Cuba Streets would have been finished by last evening had not the rainfall during the afternoon delayed "operations. The outward track is now bedded in and asphalted as far east as a point opposite Cornhill Street. A start will be made with the southern (inward) track in this thoroughfare some -time next week. Willis Street, northward of Boulcott Street, will be put in hand after th e completion of the Manners Street tracks. Painting of Schools. On the recommendation of the plans, works and tenders sub-committee, the Wellington Education Board- yesterday decided to inform the Education Department of the impossibility of carrying out the necessary painting of schools on the present grant available and to ask for an additional grant. The department is to be informed of the increase in the cost of labour and materials and of the deterioration that will take place in buildings if not painted shortly. . “This position is cumulative and has arisen as a result of war conditions,” the sub-com-mittee said. The chairman, Mr. W. V. Dyer, is to take the matter up personally with the Director of Education, Dr. Beeby.